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Fleet-footed Overturn impresses at Doncaster

OVERTURN is now two from two over fences, following an impeccable round of jumping under Jason Maguire.

Second-favourite behind Simonsig for the Racing Post Arkle, the nine-year-old attacked his fences with plenty of enthusiasm, giving Jason Maguire a trouble-free round as the pair defeated Conquisto and Tony McCoy by 25 lengths.

With only three rivals, Overturn was not much of a betting prospect, returning at 2-9, but the race offered a fascinating insight into whether he can lay down a challenge to Simonsig at Cheltenham in March.

Maguire set his stall out early on last year's Champion Hurdle runner-up, firing him into the first at a good pace, with Overturn demonstrating the speed over obstacles which served him so well as a hurdler.

McCoy kept tabs on Conquisto, with the pair soon well clear of Attaglance and What Er Say, and there was little to report for the majority of the contest, as the two front-runners were neat and tidy throughout.

Coming into the home straight again Maguire cranked the pace up, going clear from Conquisto and putting in another bold leap four out. All the way down the straight the advantage increased, with a fluid jump at the last putting a neat stamp on proceedings.

Maguire, who suffered a crunching fall in the previous race on Nodform Richard, said: "I'm delighted with that, he jumped super. He'll be better again on better ground and could probably go a bit quicker over shorter."

Bookmaker reaction was mixed, with William Hill leaving Overturn unchanged at 6-1 for the Arkle, and 5-1 to win any race at the festival, while BetVictor went 5-1 (from 6)

Richard Thomas, representing William Hill, said: "Although not the biggest specimen, Overturn is an equine athlete and looks to have every chance of giving the mighty Simonsig a race at Cheltenham."